My Friend Lorikay

When Clark and I first settled in to our new home here of Pennsylvania, I remember the first time I met my friend Lorikay. I walked into the chapel and found a seat for myself. There were only a few people in the chapel and in walks Lorikay. She walked right up to me and said in a very matter-of-fact tone, “you’re in my seat”. I thought to myself, “Ummm… I am surrounded by empty seats!” … I told her, “Oh, I’m sorry. There’s a seat right here [pointing to the empty seat right in front of me].” She didn’t take kindly to my not getting up, so she sat behind me and grumbled about me being in her seat the entire sacrament meeting. Looking back on that day I shouldn’t have thought about it a second, but just got up immediately. There were plenty of seats for me to choose from; to her, that one seat was a very important part of Sunday. I wish she were still in that seat, but she lived a full life. A full 98 years. I miss her. I miss her feisty spirit, her zest for life, her excitement when we came to visit, and her peaceful look of reassurance when I let her know that I noticed her in the room. She’s a woman who is impossible to forget and one who is sorely missed in this life…. until we meet again dear friend! <3

Step by Step: 

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Author Box 04
About the Artist

I am an advocate first, and an artist second. My paintings create visual comfort-- spaces where grief, hope, and healing can live together without apology...

I paint what matters most: the people you cherish, the moments that shaped you, the feelings that need witness. Through art, your most precious memories move outside of you and into your home, where they can be held, seen, and never forgotten.

My work is rooted in three commitments: honoring the experiences of indigenous communities and the history of the land we inhabit; creating safe space for children and women whose voices have been silenced; and recording the honest truth of lived experience-- both my own and that of those who came before me. I believe art has the power to tell stories that words alone cannot, and to preserve what must not be lost or forgotten. I believe that all that we know about ourselves is because Art has preserved those stories throughout history, outliving those who created it.

When you encounter my work, I hope you find yourself in it-- not as escape, but as recognition. I hope it reminds you that your feelings matter, that your story deserves to be held, and that compassion and truth are still worth carrying forward.

Art is the voice that speaks honestly through the heart. 💝🪷